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SWISS INCENTIVESDiscovering Geneva and the Valais
From left to right Valerie De Knop - DDMC France Vinage - Gold and Corp Events CharlesndashEric Vilain XIIII - Alex amp Alex Candido Fernandez ndash ITM Belgium Simon Coste ndash BCD Meetings amp Events Viviane Vaz ndash ID International Myriam Winnepen-nickx Switzerland Convention Bureau and Karin de Graauw BBT Online
In a joint venture with BBT Online the Switzerland Convention amp Incentive Bureau organised a famtrip for Belgian incentive organisers this March Destinations to be visited were the city of Geneva and the Valais region The three day trip would give the group of six meeting and event planners the chance to discover some of the regionrsquos most interesting venues and activities Testing the slopes was of course encouraged as well Care to join us for some wintery fun
Text by Karin de GraauwPublisher BBT Online
wwwbbtonlineeu
The whole staff in front of Martigny Boutique Hotel
A very special hotelAfter briefly exploring Geneva we left for Martigny via the always reliable Swiss train system Martigny is located in the Lower Valais region and is one of the main hubs for everyone passing through to either France or Italy Itrsquos surrounded by vineyards and forests and is a town of art and culture ndash with the capacity of hosting some of the largest events in the Rhone valley In addition to the cultural offer the surrounding region supports a host of outdoor activities like canyoning via ferrata skiing and paintball
Our hotel in Martigny deserves a separate mention as it is quite a unique venue The Martigny Boutique Hotel employs 30 different staff members with disabilities They welcome you at breakfast show you to your room and help the hotel run smoothly in general But its social project is not the only reason to book this hotel Itrsquos brand new and very moderately priced offering 52
beautiful and spacious rooms a Peruvian restaurant and a great wine bar and the nearby train station takes you to the mountains in an instant wwwmartigny-hotelch
The day was spent doing activities around town We visited a museum focused on the St Bernard Pass housed in the former arsenal and then spent some time with the famous giant dogs themselves Personally we didnrsquot think the programme as it was was very suited for an incentive group We didnrsquot get a separate programme and were joined by regular tourists and their kids There is potential here but it has to be organised in a different way
After the dogs we visited the Piere Gianadda Foundation showing temporary art exhibitions ndash often out of some of the worldrsquos biggest museums We visited the Morand Distillery in the late afternoon
Not every incentive trip takes place on a tropical island If yoursquore looking for a top destination
for a winter event you canrsquot beat Switzerland Itrsquos a stunningly beautiful country blessed with a pristine natural environment and the Swiss are like the clocks that made them famous reliable ingenious and always on time The combination Geneva and the Valais was quite an attractive one Geneva is known as the city of peace and is home to the European seat of both the UN and the Red Cross It is also the largest and most cosmopolitan French speaking population centre in Switzerland
The Canton of Valais on the other hand is located around the Rhocircne valley in the southwest and can boast with some of the highest peaks in Switzerland Itrsquos home to the iconic Matterhorn and a couple of well-known resort towns like Saas-Fee and Verbier We would stay in Martigny and Crans-Montana
Looking out over Lake GenevaOur home base in Geneva was the Manotel Nvrsquoy a design hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva offering 153 rooms and suites a restaurant a cocktail bar and more than 300m2 of conference and event space The venue is quite beautiful ndash not just your standard contemporary hotel but offering a warm and colourful atmosphere
Art is an important part of that vibe the bar is covered in bright graffiti murals and the entry hall is filled with massive works of art Therersquos also a beautiful guitar collection and pop art to be admired ndash it reminded us of the Hard Rock Hotel style a little Great stay on a great location ndash much appreciated by the whole group There are several Manotels in Geneva by the way some of which ndash like the Manotel Edelweiss and the Manotel Royal ndash we visited as well All of them have a completely different style wwwhotelnvygenevacom
Some images of the wonderful Manothel Nvrsquoy
Hotel Chetzeron on top of the mountain
where theyrsquove been producing quality brandy liqueurs and syrups with ingredients from the surrounding orchards for more than 120 years The Fromathegraveque and its specialities were another stop on the way
Skiing in Crans-MontanaCrans-Montana is situated in the heart of the Valais Alps ndash ideal for events combining work and leisure There is a congress centre available offering every facility and amenity as well as a diverse range of high-quality accommodation Our hotel for the night was the Chetzeron ndash a beautiful member of Design Hotels ndash right on the slopes above the valley at an altitude of no less than 2112 meters The hotel is housed in an old and completely transformed gondola station and is now a luxury ski-in ski-out venue offering 16 rooms and suites with incredible views wwwchetzeronch
Another hotel wersquove visited here was Hotel Royal ndash one of the icons of the town It has the warmth of a mountain chalet and itrsquos been welcoming the worldrsquos VIPs since the 1930s In 2012 it was completely refurbished to face the 21st century In winter itrsquos one of the closest hotels to the ski lifts and in summer itrsquos just a few steps away from the golf courses wwwhotel-royalch
Crans-Montana is a beautiful ski-resort and is one of the biggest holiday destinations in the Valais both winter and summer Most of the accommodation venues and activities yoursquoll find in Switzerland are of course splendid but it is really the unspoilt and magnificent nature that keeps drawing you back for more Once the mountains get a hold on you itrsquos hard to let go It will not be our last visit
For more info on Switzerland as a MICE Destination check out wwwMySwitzerlandcommeetings
Your contact in Belgium is Myriam Winnepenninckx - Manager Meetings amp Incentives Switzerland Convention amp Incentive BureauSwitzerland Tourism
Telephone +32 (0)2 345 83 57 E-Mail myriamwinnepenninckxswitzerlandcom
Published on wwwbbtonlineeu in May 2017Like our reports Like our Facebook page as well
On the slopes in Crans-Montana
More special hotels
The clip linked below is a French report on some of the most remarkable hotels in the region ndash the Chetzeron we stayed in being one of them The first venue they talk about is Igloo Village and as the name suggests itrsquos completely made out of snow and ice nine rooms 32 beds and a large restaurant Click here to see the report
Simon Coste ndash BCD Meetings amp Events
lsquoSwitzerland is an out of the box suggestion for a MICE destination It offers nice opportunities to combine city and mountain activities for groupsrsquo
lsquoThe culture is rich and less known than more typical destinations like France or Spain The wide variety of wines it produces was surpris-ing as well ndash good idea for an incentive trip History buffs will have a field day as well Itrsquos an exciting destination with high quality services and transportation It has a lot on offer but you have to have a decent budget since itrsquos not on the cheaper scalersquo
lsquoMy highlights were of course the amazing slopes in Crans-Montana and the amazing raclette and fonduersquo
More Swiss Incentives
Switzerland offers much more incentive possibilities than we were able to experience during such a short trip Because some of them are truly outlandish we would like to present you with a little overview
-Have dinner with up to 100 people in cable cars in Lucerne or on a belle eacutepoque steamboat in Lausanne ndash you can even hold seminar sessions in these cable cars-Go for a husky excursion ending with dinner in a cosy mountain hut-Have an ice sculpture contest as a teambuilding activity -Explore the clear lakes and rivers on the raft you built yourself-Have a scooter tour or compete in the Farm Olympics-Go for a photo shoot in the Alps wearing the traditional cos-tume and with a St-Bernard and an alphorn at your side-Why not try some Bavarian Curling-Explore the mountains in a helicopter or a hot air balloon-Take a Vintage bus trip through Davos-Learn how to sail on one of the many lakes with the help of a professional skipper-Go for some wild river rafting which is even possible in the heart of Geneva-Start a trek seated on a very well behaved dairy cow instead of a horse-Go for a ride on the worldrsquos first open-top cable car to the top of the Stanserhorn-Indulge yourself on the chocolate or cheese train or taste the Jungraujoch Whisky stored in the ice caves under the mountain with the same name
Viviane Vaz - ID International - Travel amp Event agency
lsquoA new global report ranked Switzerland as the worldrsquos best country to live inrsquo
lsquoThis high quality of life is also reflected in the country as a MICE destination Swiss professionalism and kindness clean and safe cities and a perfect balance of modern and traditional activitiesrsquo
lsquoIf the budget allows it you wonrsquot regret the resultsrsquo
The whole staff in front of Martigny Boutique Hotel
A very special hotelAfter briefly exploring Geneva we left for Martigny via the always reliable Swiss train system Martigny is located in the Lower Valais region and is one of the main hubs for everyone passing through to either France or Italy Itrsquos surrounded by vineyards and forests and is a town of art and culture ndash with the capacity of hosting some of the largest events in the Rhone valley In addition to the cultural offer the surrounding region supports a host of outdoor activities like canyoning via ferrata skiing and paintball
Our hotel in Martigny deserves a separate mention as it is quite a unique venue The Martigny Boutique Hotel employs 30 different staff members with disabilities They welcome you at breakfast show you to your room and help the hotel run smoothly in general But its social project is not the only reason to book this hotel Itrsquos brand new and very moderately priced offering 52
beautiful and spacious rooms a Peruvian restaurant and a great wine bar and the nearby train station takes you to the mountains in an instant wwwmartigny-hotelch
The day was spent doing activities around town We visited a museum focused on the St Bernard Pass housed in the former arsenal and then spent some time with the famous giant dogs themselves Personally we didnrsquot think the programme as it was was very suited for an incentive group We didnrsquot get a separate programme and were joined by regular tourists and their kids There is potential here but it has to be organised in a different way
After the dogs we visited the Piere Gianadda Foundation showing temporary art exhibitions ndash often out of some of the worldrsquos biggest museums We visited the Morand Distillery in the late afternoon
Not every incentive trip takes place on a tropical island If yoursquore looking for a top destination
for a winter event you canrsquot beat Switzerland Itrsquos a stunningly beautiful country blessed with a pristine natural environment and the Swiss are like the clocks that made them famous reliable ingenious and always on time The combination Geneva and the Valais was quite an attractive one Geneva is known as the city of peace and is home to the European seat of both the UN and the Red Cross It is also the largest and most cosmopolitan French speaking population centre in Switzerland
The Canton of Valais on the other hand is located around the Rhocircne valley in the southwest and can boast with some of the highest peaks in Switzerland Itrsquos home to the iconic Matterhorn and a couple of well-known resort towns like Saas-Fee and Verbier We would stay in Martigny and Crans-Montana
Looking out over Lake GenevaOur home base in Geneva was the Manotel Nvrsquoy a design hotel on the shores of Lake Geneva offering 153 rooms and suites a restaurant a cocktail bar and more than 300m2 of conference and event space The venue is quite beautiful ndash not just your standard contemporary hotel but offering a warm and colourful atmosphere
Art is an important part of that vibe the bar is covered in bright graffiti murals and the entry hall is filled with massive works of art Therersquos also a beautiful guitar collection and pop art to be admired ndash it reminded us of the Hard Rock Hotel style a little Great stay on a great location ndash much appreciated by the whole group There are several Manotels in Geneva by the way some of which ndash like the Manotel Edelweiss and the Manotel Royal ndash we visited as well All of them have a completely different style wwwhotelnvygenevacom
Some images of the wonderful Manothel Nvrsquoy
Hotel Chetzeron on top of the mountain
where theyrsquove been producing quality brandy liqueurs and syrups with ingredients from the surrounding orchards for more than 120 years The Fromathegraveque and its specialities were another stop on the way
Skiing in Crans-MontanaCrans-Montana is situated in the heart of the Valais Alps ndash ideal for events combining work and leisure There is a congress centre available offering every facility and amenity as well as a diverse range of high-quality accommodation Our hotel for the night was the Chetzeron ndash a beautiful member of Design Hotels ndash right on the slopes above the valley at an altitude of no less than 2112 meters The hotel is housed in an old and completely transformed gondola station and is now a luxury ski-in ski-out venue offering 16 rooms and suites with incredible views wwwchetzeronch
Another hotel wersquove visited here was Hotel Royal ndash one of the icons of the town It has the warmth of a mountain chalet and itrsquos been welcoming the worldrsquos VIPs since the 1930s In 2012 it was completely refurbished to face the 21st century In winter itrsquos one of the closest hotels to the ski lifts and in summer itrsquos just a few steps away from the golf courses wwwhotel-royalch
Crans-Montana is a beautiful ski-resort and is one of the biggest holiday destinations in the Valais both winter and summer Most of the accommodation venues and activities yoursquoll find in Switzerland are of course splendid but it is really the unspoilt and magnificent nature that keeps drawing you back for more Once the mountains get a hold on you itrsquos hard to let go It will not be our last visit
For more info on Switzerland as a MICE Destination check out wwwMySwitzerlandcommeetings
Your contact in Belgium is Myriam Winnepenninckx - Manager Meetings amp Incentives Switzerland Convention amp Incentive BureauSwitzerland Tourism
Telephone +32 (0)2 345 83 57 E-Mail myriamwinnepenninckxswitzerlandcom
Published on wwwbbtonlineeu in May 2017Like our reports Like our Facebook page as well
On the slopes in Crans-Montana
More special hotels
The clip linked below is a French report on some of the most remarkable hotels in the region ndash the Chetzeron we stayed in being one of them The first venue they talk about is Igloo Village and as the name suggests itrsquos completely made out of snow and ice nine rooms 32 beds and a large restaurant Click here to see the report
Simon Coste ndash BCD Meetings amp Events
lsquoSwitzerland is an out of the box suggestion for a MICE destination It offers nice opportunities to combine city and mountain activities for groupsrsquo
lsquoThe culture is rich and less known than more typical destinations like France or Spain The wide variety of wines it produces was surpris-ing as well ndash good idea for an incentive trip History buffs will have a field day as well Itrsquos an exciting destination with high quality services and transportation It has a lot on offer but you have to have a decent budget since itrsquos not on the cheaper scalersquo
lsquoMy highlights were of course the amazing slopes in Crans-Montana and the amazing raclette and fonduersquo
More Swiss Incentives
Switzerland offers much more incentive possibilities than we were able to experience during such a short trip Because some of them are truly outlandish we would like to present you with a little overview
-Have dinner with up to 100 people in cable cars in Lucerne or on a belle eacutepoque steamboat in Lausanne ndash you can even hold seminar sessions in these cable cars-Go for a husky excursion ending with dinner in a cosy mountain hut-Have an ice sculpture contest as a teambuilding activity -Explore the clear lakes and rivers on the raft you built yourself-Have a scooter tour or compete in the Farm Olympics-Go for a photo shoot in the Alps wearing the traditional cos-tume and with a St-Bernard and an alphorn at your side-Why not try some Bavarian Curling-Explore the mountains in a helicopter or a hot air balloon-Take a Vintage bus trip through Davos-Learn how to sail on one of the many lakes with the help of a professional skipper-Go for some wild river rafting which is even possible in the heart of Geneva-Start a trek seated on a very well behaved dairy cow instead of a horse-Go for a ride on the worldrsquos first open-top cable car to the top of the Stanserhorn-Indulge yourself on the chocolate or cheese train or taste the Jungraujoch Whisky stored in the ice caves under the mountain with the same name
Viviane Vaz - ID International - Travel amp Event agency
lsquoA new global report ranked Switzerland as the worldrsquos best country to live inrsquo
lsquoThis high quality of life is also reflected in the country as a MICE destination Swiss professionalism and kindness clean and safe cities and a perfect balance of modern and traditional activitiesrsquo
lsquoIf the budget allows it you wonrsquot regret the resultsrsquo
Hotel Chetzeron on top of the mountain
where theyrsquove been producing quality brandy liqueurs and syrups with ingredients from the surrounding orchards for more than 120 years The Fromathegraveque and its specialities were another stop on the way
Skiing in Crans-MontanaCrans-Montana is situated in the heart of the Valais Alps ndash ideal for events combining work and leisure There is a congress centre available offering every facility and amenity as well as a diverse range of high-quality accommodation Our hotel for the night was the Chetzeron ndash a beautiful member of Design Hotels ndash right on the slopes above the valley at an altitude of no less than 2112 meters The hotel is housed in an old and completely transformed gondola station and is now a luxury ski-in ski-out venue offering 16 rooms and suites with incredible views wwwchetzeronch
Another hotel wersquove visited here was Hotel Royal ndash one of the icons of the town It has the warmth of a mountain chalet and itrsquos been welcoming the worldrsquos VIPs since the 1930s In 2012 it was completely refurbished to face the 21st century In winter itrsquos one of the closest hotels to the ski lifts and in summer itrsquos just a few steps away from the golf courses wwwhotel-royalch
Crans-Montana is a beautiful ski-resort and is one of the biggest holiday destinations in the Valais both winter and summer Most of the accommodation venues and activities yoursquoll find in Switzerland are of course splendid but it is really the unspoilt and magnificent nature that keeps drawing you back for more Once the mountains get a hold on you itrsquos hard to let go It will not be our last visit
For more info on Switzerland as a MICE Destination check out wwwMySwitzerlandcommeetings
Your contact in Belgium is Myriam Winnepenninckx - Manager Meetings amp Incentives Switzerland Convention amp Incentive BureauSwitzerland Tourism
Telephone +32 (0)2 345 83 57 E-Mail myriamwinnepenninckxswitzerlandcom
Published on wwwbbtonlineeu in May 2017Like our reports Like our Facebook page as well
On the slopes in Crans-Montana
More special hotels
The clip linked below is a French report on some of the most remarkable hotels in the region ndash the Chetzeron we stayed in being one of them The first venue they talk about is Igloo Village and as the name suggests itrsquos completely made out of snow and ice nine rooms 32 beds and a large restaurant Click here to see the report
Simon Coste ndash BCD Meetings amp Events
lsquoSwitzerland is an out of the box suggestion for a MICE destination It offers nice opportunities to combine city and mountain activities for groupsrsquo
lsquoThe culture is rich and less known than more typical destinations like France or Spain The wide variety of wines it produces was surpris-ing as well ndash good idea for an incentive trip History buffs will have a field day as well Itrsquos an exciting destination with high quality services and transportation It has a lot on offer but you have to have a decent budget since itrsquos not on the cheaper scalersquo
lsquoMy highlights were of course the amazing slopes in Crans-Montana and the amazing raclette and fonduersquo
More Swiss Incentives
Switzerland offers much more incentive possibilities than we were able to experience during such a short trip Because some of them are truly outlandish we would like to present you with a little overview
-Have dinner with up to 100 people in cable cars in Lucerne or on a belle eacutepoque steamboat in Lausanne ndash you can even hold seminar sessions in these cable cars-Go for a husky excursion ending with dinner in a cosy mountain hut-Have an ice sculpture contest as a teambuilding activity -Explore the clear lakes and rivers on the raft you built yourself-Have a scooter tour or compete in the Farm Olympics-Go for a photo shoot in the Alps wearing the traditional cos-tume and with a St-Bernard and an alphorn at your side-Why not try some Bavarian Curling-Explore the mountains in a helicopter or a hot air balloon-Take a Vintage bus trip through Davos-Learn how to sail on one of the many lakes with the help of a professional skipper-Go for some wild river rafting which is even possible in the heart of Geneva-Start a trek seated on a very well behaved dairy cow instead of a horse-Go for a ride on the worldrsquos first open-top cable car to the top of the Stanserhorn-Indulge yourself on the chocolate or cheese train or taste the Jungraujoch Whisky stored in the ice caves under the mountain with the same name
Viviane Vaz - ID International - Travel amp Event agency
lsquoA new global report ranked Switzerland as the worldrsquos best country to live inrsquo
lsquoThis high quality of life is also reflected in the country as a MICE destination Swiss professionalism and kindness clean and safe cities and a perfect balance of modern and traditional activitiesrsquo
lsquoIf the budget allows it you wonrsquot regret the resultsrsquo
More Swiss Incentives
Switzerland offers much more incentive possibilities than we were able to experience during such a short trip Because some of them are truly outlandish we would like to present you with a little overview
-Have dinner with up to 100 people in cable cars in Lucerne or on a belle eacutepoque steamboat in Lausanne ndash you can even hold seminar sessions in these cable cars-Go for a husky excursion ending with dinner in a cosy mountain hut-Have an ice sculpture contest as a teambuilding activity -Explore the clear lakes and rivers on the raft you built yourself-Have a scooter tour or compete in the Farm Olympics-Go for a photo shoot in the Alps wearing the traditional cos-tume and with a St-Bernard and an alphorn at your side-Why not try some Bavarian Curling-Explore the mountains in a helicopter or a hot air balloon-Take a Vintage bus trip through Davos-Learn how to sail on one of the many lakes with the help of a professional skipper-Go for some wild river rafting which is even possible in the heart of Geneva-Start a trek seated on a very well behaved dairy cow instead of a horse-Go for a ride on the worldrsquos first open-top cable car to the top of the Stanserhorn-Indulge yourself on the chocolate or cheese train or taste the Jungraujoch Whisky stored in the ice caves under the mountain with the same name
Viviane Vaz - ID International - Travel amp Event agency
lsquoA new global report ranked Switzerland as the worldrsquos best country to live inrsquo
lsquoThis high quality of life is also reflected in the country as a MICE destination Swiss professionalism and kindness clean and safe cities and a perfect balance of modern and traditional activitiesrsquo
lsquoIf the budget allows it you wonrsquot regret the resultsrsquo
Viviane Vaz - ID International - Travel amp Event agency
lsquoA new global report ranked Switzerland as the worldrsquos best country to live inrsquo
lsquoThis high quality of life is also reflected in the country as a MICE destination Swiss professionalism and kindness clean and safe cities and a perfect balance of modern and traditional activitiesrsquo
lsquoIf the budget allows it you wonrsquot regret the resultsrsquo
